British Rail Class 503

Infobox EMU
name = British Rail Class 503

---

imagesize = 300px
caption = A British Rail Class 503 train on the Liverpool Loop and Link underground system. This train was one of the original batch built by the LMS in 1938.
background = #012545
Manufacturer = London, Midland and Scottish Railway, British Railways
Operator = LMS and British Railways
Formation = power car + trailer + driving trailer
Built =
InService = 1938-1985
Weight = Total - 77 tons
CarLength = 58ft 0in
CarWidth = 9ft 11in
CarHeight = 11ft 10 1/4in
Capacity =
MaxSpeed = 70mph (110 km/h)
Power = 4 x 135 hp traction motors
total 540 hp (403 kW)
Gauge = standard gauge
Voltage = 650V dc third rail

British Rail Class 503 trains were 70mph (110km/h) electric multiple units. They were introduced in two batches — in 1938 by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) with a further batch (built to a similar design) in 1956 by the then nationalised British Railways (BR).

When first introduced they were seen to be of a very advanced design for a mainline railway's suburban passenger trains, featuring things such as air-operated sliding doors which were opened and closed by the guard (hitherto trains either had "slam doors" or hand-operated sliding doors).

The units spent most of their working lives on the commuter routes between Liverpool and the Wirral; routes which latterly became known as the Wirral Line of Merseyrail. In the early 1980s some units were transferred to the Northern Line for a short period, where they mainly worked the Kirkby to Garston service.

Originally these trains featured a flat front — the doors were added in the 1970s to meet safety requirements for when the city centre single-track underground loop was built.

Numbering

British Railways numbers were:
* Motor Open Brake Second
** M28371M-M28394M and
** M28672M-M28690M
* Trailer Open Composite
** M29702M-M29720M and
** M29821M-M29846M
* Driving Trailer Open Second
** M29131M-M29156M and
** M29271M-M29289M

Withdrawal and preservation

The class was replaced by Class 508 units transferred from the Southern Region of British Railways. The 503s were progressively withdrawn from June 1984, the final service train running on 29 March 1985. This was followed by a farewell tour on 13 April 1985.

A single set, formed of vehicles 28690, 29720 and 29289, was earmarked for preservation. It was kept in serviceable condition and operated occasional special trains on the Merseyrail network until 1988. The unit is now owned by the Suburban Electric Railway Association and is stored at their site on the outskirts of Coventry. It is currently not on public display.

External links

* [http://www.therailwaycentre.com/Pages%20EMU/Recognition%20EMU/IllusEMU_503.html The Railway Centre]
* [http://www.emus.co.uk/503.htm Suburban Electric Railway Association]